RON MACLEAN REDUX
I wrote last week that I considered Ron MacLean to be a hard-working, well-informed, extremely competent broadcaster. But during his painful, narcissistic discourse after the first period of last Saturday’s Hockey Night In Canada telecast he looked more like a broadcast wannabe auditioning for an intern position at a small-town radio station. And based on his performance, no program director would have hired him.
Assuming such a person exists, an objective viewer unfamiliar with the Don Cherry fiasco would have had a hard time figuring out exactly what MacLean was talking about, let alone what points he was trying to make. A couple of examples. He spent about two minutes agonizing over his week when a simple, heartfelt, three-second comment such as “I’ve just had the worst week of my life” would have sufficed. Then he morphed into a prolonged, pathetic plea directed solely at Don Cherry, seemingly forgetting that he was actually speaking to a large national audience.
There’s no excuse for such a pathetic performance by a seasoned broadcaster. MacLean had almost a full week to formulate and craft his soliloquy; and he should have used a teleprompter. That’s what would be expected from a hard-working, extremely competent broadcaster. He missed that standard by the proverbial country mile.
SPORTSNET
On the other hand, Sportsnet did the right thing by axing Coach’s Corner. The segment was always all about Don Cherry, and with him gone the Corner has no rationale. Speculation about who could replace Cherry is futile; no one can. But Sportsnet can take advantage of the situation to improve HNIC.
I’d like to see Ron MacLean resign from HNIC but continue as the host of Hometown Hockey, where he consistently does the kind of job that I praised him for last week. I’d also like to see the Headlines segment moved to the first intermission, and MacLean be replaced by the likeable, and very able, David Amber.
TRUDEAU’S NEW CABINET
Prime Minister Trudeau announced his new, and unnecessarily expanded, cabinet on Wednesday. Given that he doesn’t have much depth to choose from, it’s probably as good as could be expected. The appointment of Chrystia Freeland as deputy prime minister and minister of intergovernmental affairs was a particularly good move.
Replacing the dismally incompetent Bardish Chagger as government house leader was a half-way good move; she should have been dropped completely.
Moving the preachy, bitchy, rancorous Catherine McKenna out of the immensely important environment post was another good move; she’s too divisive to be in charge of such a sensitive ministry. As minister of infrastructure and communities she can now annoy and insult a whole new host of people.
I have to wonder, though, why we need both a ministry of indigenous relations and a ministry of indigenous services. Also, the new ministry of middle class prosperity reminds me of Monty Python’s ministry of strange walks. These moves are indicative of Trudeau’s penchant for expensive, whimsical cures for which there are no known diseases.
DUBAS PREVAILS AGAIN
Toronto Maple Leaf president Brendan Shanahan earlier jettisoned Mark Hunter and Lou Lamoriello in order to make Kyle Dubas general manager. On Wednesday he got rid of the remaining thorn in Dubas’ side by firing coach Mike Babcock.
It’s long been apparent that Shanahan was going to have to choose between Dubas and Babcock. When Dubas was promoted to general manager, Babcock was already ensconced as the Leaf coach, and it’s an NHL truism that general managers get to pick their own coaches. But it goes a lot deeper than that.
This past summer Dubas replaced Babcock’s assistant coaches and signed veteran free agent Jason Spezza, moves with which Babcock clearly didn’t agree. Even more important is that Babcock stubbornly refused to fully exploit the team’s considerable offensive talent by demanding equal emphasis on defensive strategies, a clear clash with Dubas’ opinion of how hockey should be played. It also didn’t help that Babcock and Leaf superstar star Auston Matthews don’t get along.
Many observers believed that the rumoured $18.5 million (US) payout of Babcock’s contract would protect him, but that’s essentially petty cash to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
Dubas immediately hired his protege, Sheldon Keefe, to replace Babcock. How this all plays out remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. The Leafs are definitely now Kyle Dubas’ team. If they turn it around, he’s a hero; if they don’t, he’ll be the next to go.